In Memory of M. Kathryn Scott
On July 21, 2016, Kathryn Scott suddenly collapsed while on horseback in the mountains on a two-week pack trip with friends and never regained consciousness.
M. Kathryn Scott (Kathy) held the title of Supervisor and Director Physical Education, with pride and passion from 1997 to 2015. Prior to that she was the Vice Chair of the longstanding Physical Education Department and a UC Berkeley grad. Her professional career at Berkeley spanned an astounding 48 years. She never left the campus that she so loved, or the career that allowed her to expand her reach as an expert in her field of aquatics and of Physical Education, to the city, state, and national levels.
Her list of accomplishments while steering the high-demand Physical Education Program (Kathy would cringe at the nonchalant use of the acronym, "P.E".), were many.
At the federal level she was instrumental in developing safety standards for lifeguarding and aquatic facilities. Kathy served as a subcommittee chair of a CDC formed body to develop guidelines to reduce the risks of disease, injury and drowning in aquatic facilities throughout the nation. She also led in the 2014 publishing of, "The Model Aquatic Health Code: The Code."
At the state level, she served as the President of CAHPERD (California, Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) and was a member of the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness. From 2010-2014, Kathy chaired their Advisory Board and was the UC's faculty representative of the Physical Education component of the California Subject Matter Project's, California Physical Education-Health Project. And as if that was not enough, State Legislator and Senator Tom Torlakson appointed her in 2010 to his Transition Advisory Team and Policy Working Group, which grew into her current work with Team California for Healthy Kids, the Physical Education Policy Accountability Group, and the Partners Team.
On campus, she served on numerous boards and committees such as the UCB Scientific Diving and Small Boat Safety Board, the University Health Service Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee, and the UCB Nutrition and Physical Activity Working Group.
But, those who knew her well knew of her love and respect for two specific organizations: the Military Affairs Program and the Berkeley YWCA. As an Advisory Board member for the Military Affairs Program, she had deep involvement with all branches of the UC Berkeley ROTC who honored her at the annual Nimitz dinner this past March. Kathy also showed great enthusiasm and dedication to the local Berkeley/Oakland YWCA for which she was an active board member, working tirelessly for various programs and fund raising events.
But at heart, she was and always has been an educator first, and a gifted one at that. In fact, last year she stepped down as the Director of Physical Education in order to, "leave Berkeley as I began my career— by teaching." She took great joy in teaching her Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis of Movement lecture course (PE165/IBC125), with a strong emphasis on "learning by doing". Herself an excellent swimmer, she taught Lifesaving, Water Safety Instruction, First Aid, CPR, and taught all levels of the PhysEd swimming classes.
During Kathy's Berkeley career she forged the path for her Physical Education faculty and staff to fulfill its mission to provide education and activities to thousands of students each year. Nothing was more important to her than insuring that the Berkeley campus and its students fully realized the mind-body connection and the importance of leading a physically active life. She often said, "you must be well to do well," along with, "we don't just bounce balls and blow bubbles, you know!"
Everyone who worked with her can attest that she always brought great energy, detail, and intensity to projects, along with a wealth of knowledge and a good dose of humor. She was a steward for the Hearst Memorial Gymnasium, seeing to it that the integrity of the building's maintenance and renovations kept up with the Hearst family legacy.
She looked forward to her annual pack trips on horseback with lifelong friends in the mountains. She will be missed, and her absence will be a great loss to her family, friends, and colleagues.
We will remember her fondly as she rides off into the sunset...
M. Kathryn Scott Memorial Fund
With the M. Kathryn Scott Fund, the Scott family and Physical Education Program aim to establish an endowment in her memory. We hope that you will join us in celebrating Kathy and that you will consider making a gift toward a fund furthering the educational goals of students in Physical Education, and/or a project benefiting the historic Hearst Gymnasium.
Donations may directed to give.berkeley.edu/mks
Donations by check may be mailed to:
M. Kathryn Scott Memorial Fund
University Development and Alumni Relations
2080 Addison Street, MC #4200
Berkeley CA, 94720-4200
Please make check out to "UC Berkeley Foundation," and write "M. Kathryn Scott Memorial Fund," in the memo line field.
YWCA Berkeley Donations:
http://www.ywca-berkeley.org/donate/
Note: after clicking on "Review Donation and Continue" click on "Add special instructions to the seller". In that box please put "In Memory of Kathryn Scott".
To donate by check:
YWCA Berkeley
2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley 94704
Please write "In Memory of Kathryn Scott" in the memo.